LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7821, 14 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The building trade has been very slack for some time past in Ashburton, but there are now signs of improvement. A contract has been let for a private residence which is to be erected near the corner of the Town Belt and Winter's road, for Mr E. Manchester, and it is stated by the architect (Mr H. E. Vincent) that he has not known tenders to be so low previously, or the margin between the highest and the lowest to be so narrow. The committee of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association decided on Saturday to contribute £25 towards the salary of the instructor in agricultural science whom the South Canterbury Education Board proposes to engage. The Association decided not to make the grant an annual one until it .had an opportunity of ascertaining the value of the instructor's services to the farming community. The annual dominion convention of the No-license party and the annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance will open in Christchurch to-morrow. To-morrow evening a public meeting will be held in the Choral Hall, with Bishop Julius in the chair. Among the speakers will be Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., the Rev. F. Bennett (Maori Missionary of Rotorua), the Rev. L. M. Isitt, and Messrs A. S. Adams (of Dunedin), and Wesley Spragg (president of the Alliance). The Christchurch Gas Company is about to raise the price of gas by 6d per 1000, by reducing the discount to that extent. The reasons given for this are increased cost of coal, labour and other items. The Lyttelton Times made some enquiry, and found that neither coal nor wages had increased; therefore the increase must be in the " other items." During his remarks at the opening of the Winter Show on Friday afternoon, Mr Hugo Friedlander said it was difficult to make oneself heard, 1 and difficult for a, speaker also to make a speech among such a rowdy and unruly crowd of auditors as the dogs at the other end of the Arcade. He suggested that at future shows the dogs should be allotted a space where their barking and howling would not interfere with the pleasure of visitors. This view was approved by a large number of those who attended the show, and the suggestion is one that might very well be considered by the executive before the next annual show. As Mr Friedlander remarked: "Dogs are all very well and useful when in their right place," but they are not quite in place as accompanists to those who speak at a public function.

The ordinary weekly stock sale will be held at the Ashburton yards tomorrow. Mr F. Ferriraan reports the Bale_of part Ashburton sections 723 and / 24, with dwelling-house, on account or Air S. J. Simpson, to Mr W. Olsen. „-\r A Press Association telegram states that a sharp shock of earthquake was felt at Wanganui at 12.20 to-day. It is added that heavy rain set in early in the morning, and that there is a prospect-of the river rising. The late John Booth, who met his death through & gun a^ciderit, buried oil SUnddy afternoonl \Htfr military honours.. The deceased had been connected with the Hampstead School Cadets for about five years'.- -. The monthly united prayer' meeting (which is held under the ; ausp^evof the Ashburton County Ministers, Association) was held last evening in the Church of Christ, when Pastor F.^. Greenwood presided, and :.U the evangelical churches were well reprcwenusd. The Hon. Mr Wigram is of opinion that New Zealand should go in for airships as the cheapest means of defence against a hostile navy. \t Wellington,. oil . Friday, .John Evans was charged with, wantonly setting in motion a fire, alarm, and was convicted and fined. £3 and costs ; in default, seven days' imprisonment. W. J. Murphy, the. prisoner who escaped from custody by jumping ott the first express on Friday afternoon, j was seen on Sunday (so it is reported) at West Melton, near Rolleston, and not far from where he escaped. . The Excise returns for Victoria show that the average annual consumption of beer works out to four bucketfuls for every man, woman and child m that State. \ . The Municipal Crematorium at Wellington is nearly completed, but berore it can be used the Government have to furnish regulations, and the. City Council to fix a scale of fees. •"- Mr Witty has given notice, to ask the Minister of Lands to give instructions that pastoral leases or grazing runs suitable for subdivision should be cut up before being re-let, and that all sections should be balloted for, instead of being put up to auction. As an instance of existing " slackness " a Wellington employer of about iforty men informed a representative of the Dominion that his wages-sheet this time last year was £130.'.;,; At the present time it is £90. There is practically no work in hand, and little prospect of any coming ill, : .... A Press Association, telegram states that the services of the several experts of the Department in Agriculture are being dispensed with, among them being W. Jacques, fruit preserving expert (salary £400); Mr D. D. "Hyde, poultry expert (£300); and Mr .C. J. Fulton, chief fibre expert (£300), In deciding a quarrel between neighbours over a dividing fence, Dr. McArthur, S.M., at Wellington,, held that an agreement about a fence overrides the Fencing Act, and he gave | judgment for the man who, in accordance with the agreement, put up a fence in excess of the requirements of the Act. The Victorian State Cabinet has (says a cable message) decided-'to include preferential voting in its "Electoral Reform Bill. ■ ' In the House of Representatives on Saturday,'the Hon. A. W. Hogg .expressed himself strongly on the subject of land monopoly, and contended that it was the big estates that were largely responsible for the present distress. Land settlement would have to go on side by side with land taxation; and he added that he had always regarded land monopoly as a crime. He explained his remarks regarding: a note issue by the State, and said that his idea was to make capital as plentiful as possible. The annual meeting of the Rakaia Horticultural Society was held on June Bth. There was a good attendance of members, and Mr E. B. Wright was voted to the chair. The secretary's report stated that two very successful shows had been held during the season; the number of members had risen from 122 to 141; a lecture was given last winter by Mr Bayliss, but was. not well attended. The best kept cottage garden competition had received only three entries.^ The treasurer 1 (Mr C. Tubb) read the balance-sheet, . which showed a credit balance of £45 15s 2d, as against £47 15s, with which the year started, but £5 had been spent in vases and frames, which remain'as an asset. All the officers were reelected, and eight new members. Mr Wright announced that Messrs Yates and Co. had promised two prizes of 5s worth of seeds. A motion was carried recommending the committee to arrange for a lecture on some branch of gardening. A vote of thanks .to all donors of prizes was passed. The Combined -Winter Show, was brought to a close on Saturday night, when there was a large attendance of. both town and country people.- During the evening the Temperance and Scottish Bands played a musical programme, which was much appreciated. The total takings for the show amount to £207' 7s, as against £205 17s 6d last year, and, considering the threatening aspect of the 'weather throughout the whole of Saturday,'the attendance was highly satisfactory. As a result of their close confinement for two days, the poultry and live stock looked somewhat jaded in appearance on Saturday evening. There were no acts of rowdyism during the show 1, and everything passed off quietly; Before the next show the Combined Executive might with advantage consider the advisableness of making the main right-of-way into, the show several feet wider, as, in this and former years, the want of. room caused a good deal of blockage at the point indicated. It'may be mentioned that Messrs T. H. Undrill and Co. (furniture manufacturers and upholsterers) and, Mr John Sw^ison (tailor and costumier) were awai !ed certificates of merit"for their attra iivo exhibits. Several articles of jewellery, etc., that were found by the worknien and others to-day during the clearing away of the fittings have been deposited with the secretary, from whom they may bo obtained on application. '-„".■ - _A Watch that gives its owner entire satisfaction—L. S.> McClurg's famous Nickel Lever, full jewelled, keyless, dust-proof case. The ideal watch for rough wear. Guaranteed for two years, 30s. 6 00